Brown Grows Into QB Role
Former Running Back Leads Woodbridge to 24-6 Win
Woodbridge quarterback Alex Brown, above, picks his way through the Stonewall Jackson defense, including Jake Bedwell (32) and Justin Ball (45). Brown has rushed for eight TDs this year. At right, Woodbridge's Na'eem Outler sacks Stonewall QB Ricky Milbourne.
(Photos By Jonathan Ernst For The Washington Post)
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Sunday, October 2, 2005
Alex Brown was a running back who for most of his high school career would not have found a home in the Woodbridge offense because of older talent. So he switched to quarterback and is now a senior starter who has rushed for eight touchdowns in the first four games this season.
Jay Kirland was a Vikings quarterback whose services were needed more at safety this fall. So he made the switch to defense, and has three interceptions the past two weeks.
In high school football, where you start out isn't always where you end up. Brown and Kirland, both seniors, are happy examples of that, as evidenced by their productive performances Friday night in a 24-6 home win over Stonewall Jackson.
Quarterback hopefuls often end up playing another position when their dreams of lining up under center fade. For Brown, it was the opposite. He realized early on that biding his time behind standout running back Andre Bratton, a 2005 graduate, would mean little game action. So he tried out for quarterback last season and became a part-time starter.
This season the job is his. And although he throws some, he is in large part still a runner. Friday, he darted for three first-half touchdowns, the first of which capped a 71-yard game-opening drive.
His second touchdown was a 57-yard burst after he appeared to be stopped cold near the line of scrimmage. That play underscored the greatest difference between Woodbridge (3-1) and Stonewall (1-3): Woodbridge returned almost its entire offensive line. Stonewall graduated its line, which is why senior quarterback Ricky Milbourne was continually hounded.
Including sack yardage, Milbourne finished with 10 yards on 14 carries but threw for 105 yards, most of it on an 85-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes that marred what would have been the Vikings' second shutout of the season.
Kirland picked off a pass in each half and also had two receptions for 29 yards.
Woodbridge played without senior kicker Eric Buckenmeyer, who sustained a minor leg injury playing soccer. In his absence, junior Juan Cordova booted all three extra points and connected on a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
Stonewall is still without sophomore running back Ryan Williams (knee injury), who despite being inactive carried a ball on the sideline for much of the game Friday. Senior Domonique Vaughn was the Raiders' top offensive threat, with 37 yards rushing and 44 receiving.
